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Biography

Coosje van Bruggen (b. 1942­­, Groningen, The Netherlands, d. 2009, Los Angeles) was a sculptor, art historian, and critic who collaborated extensively with her husband, the artist Claes Oldenburg. Throughout her career, van Bruggen held positions at various institutions including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; Sonsbeek 71, Artforum; and the Yale University School of Art. She also authored numerous art historical books. Van Bruggen’s first collaboration with Oldenburg was in 1976, when Trowel I, originally shown at Sonsbeek 71, was rebuilt and relocated to the sculpture garden of the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands. In 1978, van Bruggen moved to New York, where she continued to work with Oldenburg. Together, the pair executed more than forty large-scale projects, which have been sited in various urban surroundings in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, Plantoir, Blue, 2001-2021 stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane enamel paint
Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Plantoir, Blue, 2001-2021 stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane enamel paint
Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, Plantoir, Blue, 2001-2021 stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane enamel paint

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Plantoir, Blue, 2001-2021
stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane enamel paint
23 ft 11 7/16 in. x 4 ft 4 15/16 in. x 4 ft 9 in. (730.1 x 134.5 x 144.8 cm)
 

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Color Study of Vegetable Ark, with Figure for Scale, 1999 graphite and pastel on paper ​30 3/16 x 39 13/16 in. (76.7 x 101.1); frame: 32 3/4 x 42 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (83.2 x 108.6 x 3.8 cm.

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Color Study of Vegetable Ark, with Figure for Scale, 1999
graphite and pastel on paper
30 3/16 x 39 13/16 in. (76.7 x 101.1); frame: 32 3/4 x 42 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (83.2 x 108.6 x 3.8 cm.

Things Around the House, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2015
Things Around the House, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2015
Things Around the House, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2015

Things Around the House, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2015

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Study for Resonances, after J. V., 2000 Canvas, cardboard, wood, paper, string, clay, metal, T-pins; painted with latex and watercolor, pencil 18 x 33 3/4 x 13 1/4 in. (45.7 x85.7 x 33.7 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Study for Resonances, after J. V., 2000
Canvas, cardboard, wood, paper, string, clay, metal, T-pins; painted with latex and watercolor, pencil
18 x 33 3/4 x 13 1/4 in. (45.7 x85.7 x 33.7 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Silent Metronome, 16 inch, Version Four, 2005 Canvas, wood, cord, hardware; painted with acrylic and latex 16 x 8 1/2 x 10 in. (40.6 x 21.6 x 25.4 cm), variable dimensions

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Silent Metronome, 16 inch, Version Four, 2005
Canvas, wood, cord, hardware; painted with acrylic and latex
16 x 8 1/2 x 10 in. (40.6 x 21.6 x 25.4 cm), variable dimensions

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Sculpture in the Form of a Match Cover – Model, 1987 cardboard, expanded polystyrene, felt pen 38 1/2 x 19 x 38 in. (97.8 x 48.3 x 96.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Sculpture in the Form of a Match Cover – Model, 1987
cardboard, expanded polystyrene, felt pen
38 1/2 x 19 x 38 in. (97.8 x 48.3 x 96.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Proposed Sculpture for the Harbor of Stockholm, Sweden, Caught and Set Free, Model, 1998 Steel, aluminum, wood, plaster, sand; painted with acrylic polyurethane and latex 23 x 39 3/4 x 30 in. (58.4 x 102.2 x 76.2 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Proposed Sculpture for the Harbor of Stockholm, Sweden, Caught and Set Free, Model, 1998
Steel, aluminum, wood, plaster, sand; painted with acrylic polyurethane and latex
23 x 39 3/4 x 30 in. (58.4 x 102.2 x 76.2 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Shuttlecock on a High Wire, in the Rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum, 1995 graphite and pastel on paper 29 x 23 1/16 in. (73.7 x 58.6 cm); frame: 32 x 26 in. (81.3 x 66 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Shuttlecock on a High Wire, in the Rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum, 1995
graphite and pastel on paper
29 x 23 1/16 in. (73.7 x 58.6 cm); frame: 32 x 26 in. (81.3 x 66 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Notebook Page: Filet Mignon, Chicago, 2003 pencil, ballpoint pen, crayon, watercolor image: 2 3/4 x 5 in. (7 x 12.7 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm) framed: 16 3/4 x 14 x 1 1/8 inches (42.5 x 35.6 x 2.9 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Notebook Page: Filet Mignon, Chicago, 2003
pencil, ballpoint pen, crayon, watercolor
image: 2 3/4 x 5 in. (7 x 12.7 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm) framed: 16 3/4 x 14 x 1 1/8 inches (42.5 x 35.6 x 2.9 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Notebook Page: Giant Asparagus in Landscape, 1996 pencil and watercolor 5 1/16 x 8 1/2 in. (12.9 x 21.6 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Notebook Page: Giant Asparagus in Landscape, 1996
pencil and watercolor
5 1/16 x 8 1/2 in. (12.9 x 21.6 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Fagend Study, Prototype, 1976 cast aluminum painted with enamel 10 x 18 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. (25.4 x 47 x 23.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Fagend Study, Prototype, 1976
cast aluminum painted with enamel
10 x 18 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. (25.4 x 47 x 23.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Proposal for Sculpture in the Form of Nails Projecting into a Room, 1985 graphite and watercolor on paper ​30 1/16 x 23 in. (76.4 x 58.4 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Proposal for Sculpture in the Form of Nails Projecting into a Room, 1985
graphite and watercolor on paper
30 1/16 x 23 in. (76.4 x 58.4 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Blueberry Pie, Flying, Scale B, 1998 cast aluminum painted with acrylic urethane 33 x 25 1/2 x 18 in. (83.8 x 64.8 x 45.7 cm) Edition of 3

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Blueberry Pie, Flying, Scale B, 1998
cast aluminum painted with acrylic urethane
33 x 25 1/2 x 18 in. (83.8 x 64.8 x 45.7 cm)
Edition of 3

Images a la Carte, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2004

Images a la Carte, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2004

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Proposal for a Sculpture in the Form of a Dropped Cone, for Neumarkt Galerie, Cologne, 1998 pencil and colored pencil 11 13/16 x 9 5/16 in. (30 x 23.7 cm); frame: 18 1/2 x 16 in (47 x 40.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Proposal for a Sculpture in the Form of a Dropped Cone, for Neumarkt Galerie, Cologne, 1998
pencil and colored pencil
11 13/16 x 9 5/16 in. (30 x 23.7 cm); frame: 18 1/2 x 16 in (47 x 40.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, Plantoir, Blue, 2001-2021 stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane enamel paint

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Plantoir, Blue, 2001-2021
stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, polyurethane enamel paint
23 ft 11 7/16 in. x 4 ft 4 15/16 in. x 4 ft 9 in. (730.1 x 134.5 x 144.8 cm)
 

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Color Study of Vegetable Ark, with Figure for Scale, 1999 graphite and pastel on paper ​30 3/16 x 39 13/16 in. (76.7 x 101.1); frame: 32 3/4 x 42 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (83.2 x 108.6 x 3.8 cm.

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Color Study of Vegetable Ark, with Figure for Scale, 1999
graphite and pastel on paper
30 3/16 x 39 13/16 in. (76.7 x 101.1); frame: 32 3/4 x 42 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (83.2 x 108.6 x 3.8 cm.

Things Around the House, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2015

Things Around the House, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2015

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Study for Resonances, after J. V., 2000 Canvas, cardboard, wood, paper, string, clay, metal, T-pins; painted with latex and watercolor, pencil 18 x 33 3/4 x 13 1/4 in. (45.7 x85.7 x 33.7 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Study for Resonances, after J. V., 2000
Canvas, cardboard, wood, paper, string, clay, metal, T-pins; painted with latex and watercolor, pencil
18 x 33 3/4 x 13 1/4 in. (45.7 x85.7 x 33.7 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Silent Metronome, 16 inch, Version Four, 2005 Canvas, wood, cord, hardware; painted with acrylic and latex 16 x 8 1/2 x 10 in. (40.6 x 21.6 x 25.4 cm), variable dimensions

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Silent Metronome, 16 inch, Version Four, 2005
Canvas, wood, cord, hardware; painted with acrylic and latex
16 x 8 1/2 x 10 in. (40.6 x 21.6 x 25.4 cm), variable dimensions

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Sculpture in the Form of a Match Cover – Model, 1987 cardboard, expanded polystyrene, felt pen 38 1/2 x 19 x 38 in. (97.8 x 48.3 x 96.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Sculpture in the Form of a Match Cover – Model, 1987
cardboard, expanded polystyrene, felt pen
38 1/2 x 19 x 38 in. (97.8 x 48.3 x 96.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Proposed Sculpture for the Harbor of Stockholm, Sweden, Caught and Set Free, Model, 1998 Steel, aluminum, wood, plaster, sand; painted with acrylic polyurethane and latex 23 x 39 3/4 x 30 in. (58.4 x 102.2 x 76.2 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Proposed Sculpture for the Harbor of Stockholm, Sweden, Caught and Set Free, Model, 1998
Steel, aluminum, wood, plaster, sand; painted with acrylic polyurethane and latex
23 x 39 3/4 x 30 in. (58.4 x 102.2 x 76.2 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Shuttlecock on a High Wire, in the Rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum, 1995 graphite and pastel on paper 29 x 23 1/16 in. (73.7 x 58.6 cm); frame: 32 x 26 in. (81.3 x 66 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Shuttlecock on a High Wire, in the Rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum, 1995
graphite and pastel on paper
29 x 23 1/16 in. (73.7 x 58.6 cm); frame: 32 x 26 in. (81.3 x 66 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Notebook Page: Filet Mignon, Chicago, 2003 pencil, ballpoint pen, crayon, watercolor image: 2 3/4 x 5 in. (7 x 12.7 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm) framed: 16 3/4 x 14 x 1 1/8 inches (42.5 x 35.6 x 2.9 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Notebook Page: Filet Mignon, Chicago, 2003
pencil, ballpoint pen, crayon, watercolor
image: 2 3/4 x 5 in. (7 x 12.7 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm) framed: 16 3/4 x 14 x 1 1/8 inches (42.5 x 35.6 x 2.9 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Notebook Page: Giant Asparagus in Landscape, 1996 pencil and watercolor 5 1/16 x 8 1/2 in. (12.9 x 21.6 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Notebook Page: Giant Asparagus in Landscape, 1996
pencil and watercolor
5 1/16 x 8 1/2 in. (12.9 x 21.6 cm) sheet: 11 x 8 1/2 in. (27.9 x 21.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Fagend Study, Prototype, 1976 cast aluminum painted with enamel 10 x 18 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. (25.4 x 47 x 23.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Fagend Study, Prototype, 1976
cast aluminum painted with enamel
10 x 18 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. (25.4 x 47 x 23.5 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Proposal for Sculpture in the Form of Nails Projecting into a Room, 1985 graphite and watercolor on paper ​30 1/16 x 23 in. (76.4 x 58.4 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Proposal for Sculpture in the Form of Nails Projecting into a Room, 1985
graphite and watercolor on paper
30 1/16 x 23 in. (76.4 x 58.4 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Blueberry Pie, Flying, Scale B, 1998 cast aluminum painted with acrylic urethane 33 x 25 1/2 x 18 in. (83.8 x 64.8 x 45.7 cm) Edition of 3

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Blueberry Pie, Flying, Scale B, 1998
cast aluminum painted with acrylic urethane
33 x 25 1/2 x 18 in. (83.8 x 64.8 x 45.7 cm)
Edition of 3

Images a la Carte, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2004

Images a la Carte, Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, NY, 2004

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen Proposal for a Sculpture in the Form of a Dropped Cone, for Neumarkt Galerie, Cologne, 1998 pencil and colored pencil 11 13/16 x 9 5/16 in. (30 x 23.7 cm); frame: 18 1/2 x 16 in (47 x 40.6 cm)

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen
Proposal for a Sculpture in the Form of a Dropped Cone, for Neumarkt Galerie, Cologne, 1998
pencil and colored pencil
11 13/16 x 9 5/16 in. (30 x 23.7 cm); frame: 18 1/2 x 16 in (47 x 40.6 cm)